INDIANAPOLIS - David Montgomery didn't finish Sunday's game because of a shoulder injury, but the power half of the NFL's best backfield duo said he plans to play in this week's Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears.
"It was just a smart decision (to hold me out)," Montgomery said. "Coach Campbell kind of pulled me to the side like, 'Hey, there's bigger fish to fry,' so I trust in him and we'll be ready for Thursday."
Montgomery was one of four key players who left the Detroit Lions' 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts with injuries.
Kalif Raymond suffered a foot injury on a third-quarter punt return. Left tackle Taylor Decker suffered knee and ankle injuries when he got rolled up on three plays later. And cornerback Carlton Davis III hurt his left knee when he planted his foot in the Lucas Oil Stadium turf trying to make an interception in the fourth quarter.
Decker said he plans to play against the Bears, Davis said he'll know more after getting imaging Monday, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said Raymond's injury was the only one of real concern.
"I feel OK about three of those guys," Campbell said. "Leaf could be a little bit more serious, but even with that, that doesn't mean any of those guys are going to be ready for Thursday. I just don't know, but look, I don't know Chicago's deal yet, I don't know what they're dealing with but I'm sure they've got injuries. Everybody's got them and the league doesn't care. They do the schedule and we play this and we roll, and then seven days later we've got Green Bay, so be it, man. That's the way it rolls and we'll be ready."
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Jahmyr Gibbs carried a heavier-than-usual workload in Montgomery's absence, rushing for a team-high 90 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Montgomery said he could have returned to Sunday's game if needed.
Decker returned one series after his injury, but left again late in the fourth quarter. He said he should be "good to go" for Thanksgiving.
"I don't know if I'm supposed to say that, but I think I'll be all right," he said.
And the Lions, already down starting cornerback Terrion Arnold because of a groin injury, finished Sunday's game with Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey at cornerback.
"It's the turf, man," Davis said. "This is the second injury I had because of turf, so we just got to see tomorrow and see how it looks."
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline" from noon-2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Troy Sports Card Show at the Balkan American Community Center. Order your copy here. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.